I was reading some reviews, and I was surprised to see many of the negative reviews citing misogyny and other "problematic content" as the reason for their low ratings. While I understand that many readers prefer books to be escapist fantasies and would rather not deal with real-life issues such as bigotry during their free time, I don't understand the growing sentiment that disagreeing with the morals of a book's characters makes the book inherently bad or unenjoyable.

The Princess Bride, in particular, is heavily satirical. I read it as portraying misogyny in order to critique society and the fantasy and romance genres, specifically at the time the book was written. Of course, satirical intent does not exempt a book from criticism, and those who didn't like the book aren't wrong for disagreeing with my interpretation. But I do wonder if the pervading moral rigidity of the reading community (and society at large) is preventing readers from considering this and similar books from a different perspective.

I see a lot of my young, closeted self in this first chapter. I used to have a kind of muse (a middle school best friend whom I was obsessed with and drew constantly). I based my favorite original character on her. When I made an oil pastel portrait of the character, she took one look at it and immediately asked why I had drawn her with red hair. I insisted the likeness was a coincidence.

I didn't realize I was a lesbian until several years later. After coming out, I found my old notebooks from that time. Doodles of her stared at me from the margins of my classwork. I had drawn her so often and so lovingly that it was obvious she was important to me. The special care and detail with which I sketched her face betrayed me and my feelings. I couldn't help but think she must have known I was fond of her in a way that wasn't allowed at our tiny Catholic school. Maybe that's why we haven't spoken in 13 years.

I don't have her social media, so I have no idea what she looks like now. I think I remember the drawings more than I remember the person.